The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-08-25
We regret that our space will not admit
of a fuller report of Mr.. Massey's remarks.

We regret that our space will not admi
Of fuller report of Mr.. Massey's remarks
CAPT. CHAS GRATTAN
followed Mr.. Massey. The line of hi
remarks was pretty much the same as tina
INDUCED ut the Charlottesville meeting.
full report Of which we then gave. FL
ascribed no little of the depression amons
the farmers to protection, declaring tina
they were forced to pay more for every
thing they purchased, whilst the markets
! of the world were closed to their products
In discussing the transportation prob
lem, he adduced the same facts and figures
used at Charlottesville to prove that the
West Virginia farmer of $50 acres good
land was forced to pay $240 per year to
the railroads.
The principal remedy for the evils was
the passage of a railroad law similar to that
of Georgia, which had produced such excel.
lent results.
RES OLUTIONS.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Grattan s
| speech, the committee on resolutions
through its chairman. S. M. Woods, sub
mitted series Of resolutions. The first
pledged the farmers to vote and use their
| influence against any candidate for the
| legislature who would not pledge himself
| to advocate certain measures subsequently
set forth.
Mr.. Grattan moved to amend by insert
ing vote and use their influence in the
primaries :" He said that he was opposed
to any third party movement, and thought
the fight should be made inside of party
lines, the Democrats using their influence
to have Democratic candidates in sympa-
thy with the movement, and the Republi-
cans making the same effort as to Repub-
lican candidates. AS for himself, he pro-
posed to do all he could to secure the nom
ination of farmer candidates. but if he
failed in that, to support the nominees
whoever they might be.
Messrs. Wood and Houff opposed tie
amendment, on the ground that any move
ment in favor of the farmers, to be at all
effective, must be made without regard to
politics. They had supposed the meeting
to be non partizan.
Mr.. J.. w. Todd stated that he was
Democrat, but would vote against the
amendment, for the reason that the Re-
publican party bad not indicated its inten-
tion of holding primary, and that the
amendment seemed to contemplate the
exclusion of all who did not enter the
primary.
After some further discussion Mr..
Grattan's amendment was alphabetically
by default, as there were but few no voted
either one way or the other. The resolu-
tions were as follows:
Resolved By the farmers of Augusta county,
in mass meeting assembled, that we pledge
ourselves to use all our influence in the prima.
ries and vote against any candidate for the Leg
islature who refuses to pledge himself to use
statute books of this State at as early date as
possible
First A stringent law regulating freight and
passenger rates on all railroads in this State.
Second. A law amending the law now on the
statute books in regard to railroad companies
fencing their tracks, SO as to compel said rail-
road companies to fence their tracks within a
reasonable time.
Third A law forbidding any railroad issuing
free passes.
Fourth. A rigid law for the purpose of stamp |
ing out and preventing the spread of pleuro-
pneumonia or other contagious dsea ses among |
the livestock OF the State,